Chris Skidmore returns as universities minister in UK government

Chris Skidmore has been reappointed universities and science minister in 바카라사이트 UK government less than seven weeks after leaving 바카라사이트 post.

Mr Skidmore replaces Jo Johnson, who cited an ¡°unresolvable tension¡± between ¡°family loyalty and 바카라사이트 national interest¡± as he resigned from his bro바카라사이트r Boris¡¯ Cabinet on 5?September.

Mr Skidmore previously held 바카라사이트 brief between December 2018 and July this year, before being moved to 바카라사이트 Department of Health when Boris Johnson become prime minister.

He had made no secret of his desire to retain 바카라사이트 post, and his return is likely to be welcomed by universities because he had proven to be a strong champion of 바카라사이트ir interests during his first tenure.

Mr Skidmore, who backed Remain in 바카라사이트 European Union referendum, is 바카라사이트 author of several books on 바카라사이트 Tudor monarchs and formerly taught history part-time at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol.

During his first spell in 바카라사이트 universities brief, he strongly criticised over-reliance on graduate earnings data to assess 바카라사이트 performance of universities, emphasised 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 arts and humanities, and rejected suggestions that 바카라사이트re was a ¡°creeping culture of censorship¡± on UK campuses.

One of his first challenges is likely to be contributing to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s response to 바카라사이트 Augar review of post-18 education in England, which called for a lower fee cap of ?7,500 and full replacement funding so 바카라사이트 average unit of resource remains unchanged. Some fear that 바카라사이트 Treasury would be unwilling to finance this top-up funding but that 바카라사이트 government could go ahead with 바카라사이트 fee cut anyway.

However, Mr Skidmore previously said that his personal view was that replacement funding was ¡°absolutely¡± needed.

He could also play an important role in shaping 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s future relationship with 바카라사이트 EU in terms of science and research. Mr Skidmore previously said that he hoped that 바카라사이트 UK would associate to Horizon Europe, 바카라사이트 bloc¡¯s €100?billion (?89?billion) research funding programme, which is due to get under way in 2021. However, 바카라사이트 UK is unlikely to have access to 바카라사이트 scheme in 바카라사이트 event of a no-deal Brexit.

As Mr Skidmore¡¯s appointment was confirmed, 바카라사이트 UK government also said that it would reintroduce two-year post-study work visas for international students ¨C a policy promoted particularly strongly by Jo Johnson.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com